Published on: Thursday, July 14, 2011

By Mary McHale

Bells' pastor reassigned

Rev. Gerald L. Elston, pastor of Bells United Methodist Church in Camp Springs, has been appointed pastor of Brightwood Park U. M. Church on Jefferson Street N.W. Washington, effective July 1. He said an official goodbye to his flock at Worship Service and Fellowship Luncheon on June 26.

Pastor Elston came to Bells in 2007 when he was still a student at John Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington. He was a student minister until he graduated in May 2009. Before entering the ministry, he was an attorney for the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.

In a letter to parishioners, he wrote, “Bells is my first love. I will never forget you.”

Where have I been?

I have returned from two and a half weeks on the road, by Greyhound to Michigan, and by car with brother Tom and sister Stella to Ravenna, Nebraska, where my mother grew up. I saw the house where she was born, and went with family members to the cemetery to exchange memories of our grandparents and other kin buried there. One is Georgie, my mother’s brother who was run over by a train when he was six.

Two nieces drove me to Colorado where I visited still more family, including grandson David McHale, his wife Nina and their children, Jack, Molly and Riley.

I Amtraked home, shocked by the miles and miles and miles of flooding by the Platt and Missouri rivers. The floods delayed my arrival in Chicago by 12 hours. Amtrak put me on a bus back to Washington, D.C.

And now you can call or email me the news I missed while I was on the road.

Neighbors

Sheila Scott was appointed and sworn in as a Morningside councilwoman June 21, filling the seat vacated by Larry Frostbutter who resigned in May. She previously served on the council from 2004 to 2006.

Bruce Bookhultz, who grew up in Morningside, has changed channels. For more than 40 years he was a Channel 9 news cameraman working out of a van. Now he is plying his trade at Channel 7.

Dolores Steinhilber, formerly of Skyline and currently of Waldorf, retired June 30 after almost 50 years of service to St. Philip's Parish, as teacher, catechist and rectory assistant. She was honored with a farewell reception June 24.

Ruth Garner turned 90 recently. She and her husband Harry were founding residents of Morningside and lived for many years on Larches Court with their children Harry and Judy. Ruth now lives with Harry and his wife Nancy, in South Carolina.

Brian Pappas has received a Certificate of Appreciation “in recognition of your service in the 2011 Joint Base Honorary Commander program.”

Thank you to the Suitland Road Baptist Church for handing out water at the Morningside Parade. They also set up folding chairs for those who needed them.

St. Philip’s Parish has a Crochet & Knitters group. For information, contact Alma Walton, 301-423-2977 after 6 p.m.

Changing landscape

Some Safeways are closing! The store on Silver Hill Road closed in May. The stores on Watkins Park Drive in Upper Marlboro and on Iverson Street in Temple Hills are closing this month.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held July 7 for the new Spay/Neuter Clinic at the Animal Services Facility in Upper Marlboro. For information, call 301-780-7200.

A preliminary plan of subdivision has been submitted for 10 lots on a 54-acre industrial property on Rena Road, south of Suitland Parkway, near Morningside.

A site plan has been submitted for a 1.25-million-square-foot office building on 9.7 acres at 4600 Greenline Court, near Auth Way and Capital Gateway Drive in Camp Springs, near the Branch Avenue Metro Station.

A site plan has been approved for 165 townhouses on 30.4 acres at Marlboro Pike and Woodyard Road, south of Route 4 in Upper Marlboro.

Soccer time

Camp Springs Boys & Girls Club is offering Soccer Camp July 18-21, with Fall practice beginning July 22. It’s free and open to athletes ages 5 to 15. Email Soccer Coach Newell at Ryan.L.Newell@gmail.com.

In search of Lego Bricks

Surratts Library is looking for donations of new or used Lego bricks for a children's program. Call 301-868-9200.

Suitland Class of 1961: Oct. 22. E-mail Suitland61@hotmail.com.

 Suitland Class of 1991: Oct. 21-22. E-mail Myneko Broadhurst, broadhurstm@hotmail.com, or Toni Buckman Dickerson, imagesofyou@msn.com, or www.suitland1991.com.

Message from Pepco

I know how it is: Your power goes out. But your neighbor has already called Pepco to report it. So you do not call. Bad idea. Pepco says, “Always call when your power is out.” A neighbor’s call will not indicate to Pepco that you're out of power too. Call 1-877-PEPCO-62.

May they rest in peace

Russell W. Gotshall, 79, of St. Petersburg, Fla. and formerly of Allies Road in Morningside, died May 29. A native Washingtonian, he attended school there and became a master plumber, continuing his career in St. Petersburg after he moved in the ’70s. He was the husband, for 62 years, of Carolyn; father of Lamont Gotshall, Beverly Marguis, Cornel Gotshall, Russell Gotshall and the late Sherri Theilbar Gotshall. Survivors include 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Condolences to Father Scott Hahn, pastor of St. Philip’s Church, on the death of his uncle, Tom Hahn.

Milestones

Happy birthday to Ruth LaBelle and Jordan Foster, July 1; Sharon Simms, Matthew Clark and Megan Frostbutter, July 2; Pat Richardson Conlon, Sarah Booth and Jack Hay II, July 3; Grace Carruth, Matthew Ryan White and Nya Nichols, July 4; Jean Ihrig and Timothy Hollowsky, July 5; Chrissy Bennett and Marie Golihew, July 6; Father Kevin Cusick, Charles “Tony” Haley, Sue Richards and Rev. Dr. Kelvin McCune, July 7; Jimmy Gromen and Anthony Curcio Bobbitt, July 8; Steve Dameron, Karlyn Davis, John Anthony III, Norma Jean Fazenbaker and my grandson Zachary Seidman, July 9; my daughter Elaine Seidman, July 10; Kevin Kline, Nicole Wade, Jane Cowan, Dee (Curcio) Brown and Dave Williams Jr., July 11; Kenard Simms, July 13; Laverne Peggy Simms, Krista Lanehart and Laura Thompson Hoffmann, July 14.

Happy 54th anniversary to my fellow columnist Priscilla Jones and her husband Johnny on June 29, and happy36th anniversary to Dave and Carolyn Williams on July 11.